Liquid-fuel burner



J. ANDERSON ET AL June 24, 1924.

LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed June 7.

FI'.I.

192s s sheets-sheet 1 WITNESSES June 24, m4. 1,498,860

J. B. ANDERSON ET AL LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed June '1. 192; a Sheets-Sh'qk 2 wvavraea June- J. B. ANDERSON ET AL LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed June 7-. 1923 s Sheets-Shepjt-3 F l E. El

CH/M/VEY ASH PIT )Alvs/vro/es WITNESSES --W Patented June 24, 1924.

mrno sures Arsm' oer-ice.

mmns B. ANDERSON AND JAMES B. eanm,or mrrsnnnen, rmsnv LIQUID-FUEL B I i:-

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Application filed June 7, 1923. Serial no.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES B. ANDERSON and JAMES B. GARNER, both residing at Pitts burgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Im rovements in Liquid- Fuel Burners, of w ich improvements the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in liquid-fuel burners. We have developed it in application to burners for domestic heating furnaces, and in that application shall describe it. The objects in view are simplicity and cheapness of structure, ease of operation and safety, and eificiency in realizing and making serviceable a large measure of the available quantities of heat.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in side elevation of a burner for a domestic heating furnace in which is em-,

bodied our present invention; F ig.,II is a view of the same structure, seen in vertical section, on the lane indicated by the line II-II, Fig. I; dig. III is a view of the same in plan from above. In this figure a certain cap or bafie plate is for purposes of illustration in; part broken away. Fig. IV is a view in horizontal section, on the plane indicated by the line IVIV, Fig. I. Fig. V' is a diagrammatic illustration of the burner installed.

A burner pan is indicated at 1. It is a horizontally standing. annular pan 1, wide and shallow, the outer margin higher than the inner. This pan, in the burners we have built, is formed of cast iron, and finished on a lathe to accurate size, shape, and surface finish. I

Assembled with this burner pan are 1) means for feeding to it liquid fuel, (2) means for supplying and directing a flame-nourishing stream of air, and 3) means for initially heating the pan.

Liquid fuel is carried by a pipe 2 which rises vertically and centrally through the annulus, and is delivered through a ros ehead 3, whose nozzles 4: overhang and are.

directed outward and obliquely downward toward the burner pan. For facility of assembly the stand pipe is shown to be formed in two parts; the'upper part, to which the numera 2 is immediately applied and which bears the rose-head is screw-threaded into the lower part, as clearly shown in Fig. II.-

The fiame-nourishing stream of air rises centrally through the annulus, then turns and spreads and sweeps in downwardly directed andspreading course across the surface of the liquid contained in the pan. The rose-head with its nozzles already described, through which the liquid is supplied, is so placed as to be'completely submerged in this spreading stream of air, with the effect that the liquid in attenuated mass is over large surfaces exposedto contact with flame-nourishing air, from the time when it emerges from the nozzles.

The particular features of structure by which the ends indicatedare achieved are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The burner pan 1 is so situated that the air which reaches it flows upward through the opening in the annulus. The furnace in which the burner is installed is provided with a horizontal partition, ash pit below from the fire box above, and the partition is imperforate, except for an orifice which the burner completely fills.

The burner of the drawings is mounted on and carried by a plate 5, and this plate, as will be understood, is in its turn mounted on the horizontal partition alluded to. It covers an opening formed in the partition to receive it. Below plate 5 is the ash pit of the furnace; above, the fire box. p

The burner pan. 1, carried by plate 5, is, means of an interposed annulus 6, sustained at an interval above the plate. This for reasons presently to be indicated. The annulus forms a passageway for the stream of air which flows upward from the ash pit below, to sustain'combustion of the el in pan 1.

At an interval above and overarching this upwardly extending conduit, and overarchingthe rose-head 3 also, and overhangin the burner pan 1 is the mushroom-shape plate or dome 7. This bafie plate is forme beneath with a central stem of upwardly increasing thiclmess, whose exposed surface constitutes the spring of an annular vault. This annular vault terminates at the edge of plate 7 overhanging burner pan 1.' Fi II clearly indicates the channel thus de ned for the flow of combustionsustaining air. The air rises in a cylindrical column through "annulus 6; it impinges upon and spreads beneath baflie late 7 and in a widening and downwar y directed separating the mediate contact with it.

heating the annular gas burner 10, its

stream sweeps the burner pan 1 in radial direction, from the inner rim of the pan outward.

Fig. H shows also this characteristic: The rose-head 3 and particularly its nozzles 4: (which also, as has been explained, are directed to deliver liquid fuel to the burner pan 1) are so placed as to be wholly submer ed in the stream of air which sweeps the urner pan. And it willbe noted particularly that the liquid fuel as it flows from the nozzles and descends to the burner pan is enveloped in the stream of air.

The rose-head 3 is'an annulus; and, situated as it is in mid stream, it divides the flowing air into two parts. The upper portion of the stream of air sweeps the vault of baffle plate or crown-piece 7 This bafile late or crown-piece is in service heated y the burner flame, and, being so heated, it imparts heat to the flowing air, and particularly passing above the annulus 3 comes into im- This heating of the air promotes combustion.

. ,lBy means such as those presently to be indicated the position of bafile plate 7 may be minutely adjusted and so the stream of air exactly directed, to afford under the local conditions the best heating eflect.

' Opposite the outer marginof burner pan 1 and at an interval from the margin is placed a vertically standing ring 8, and at a hi her level and in stepped relation to the rst is preferably set a second vertically standing ring 9 of-greater diameter. The position of these rings is clearly indicated in Fig. Tl. Their purpose is to limit the spread of the flame and to confine and direct the heat, in the manner and for the purposes presently to be indicated.

,We have discovered that by forming the rose head with an annulus 3 from which discharge orifices lead, the annulus becomes an oil eating chamber and that the preheating of the oil in this chamber before its delivery ensures more perfect combustion and prevents accumulation of soot in the burner pan. We have discovered that by delivering the oil to the stream of air at a mid-point in the depth of the stream the surface contact of oil and air is increased and combustion is rendered more perfect. We have discovered that by causing the oilto pass from the annular rose head through nozzles 4 the oil will not run back along the stand pipe 2. We have discovered that by providing the rings 8 and 9 heat is concentrated and "complete combustion achieved.

Any suitable means may be employed for burner pan initially, when the burner is about to be used. The means shown are convenient; the consist of an by a suitable to that branch of the stream which eeaeeo gas supply pipe, arranged beneath the pan. llt has already appeared that the annulus 6 is of value in forming a passageway for and defining the flow of air from the ash pit of the furnace. Tts further value lies in this, that it supports the burner pan 1 at an interval above plate 5 and establishes an interval between plate and pan, in which interval the gas burner 10 is conveniently arranged. j

A drip pan 11 encircles the fuel inlet pipe and underlies annulus 6. In describing the burner pan 1 we explained that its inner rim was lower than its outer. lhis characteristic is clearly shown in Fig. H, and further consideration of Fig. H will make plain the fact that any overflow of liquid fuel from pan 1 will descend through annulus 6 and be caught in drip pan 11 below.

Mode of operation is manifest. We do not mean to limit ourselves in this respect, but say merely by way of illustration that our burner here particularly shown and describedv is designed and intended. for the burning of what is termed in the industry gas oil. Gas oil is a petroleum derivative of intermediate weight, between gasoline and kerosene above and lubricant oil and fuel oil below. It has an approximate specific gravity of 32 Baum.

When the burner is about to be used, the burner pan 1 is initially heated. The heating of the burner pan is effected by turning on the gas and lighting the heater 10. The flame of the gas burner playing on burner pan 1 will presently heat it to the required temperature. A suitable stop cock will then be turned, and the fuel oil will be allowed to flow under its established head or pressure through stand pipe 2 to rose-head 3 and out through nozzles 4 whence it streams to the hot burner pan 1. Meanwhile a stream of air has been rising through annulus 6, affording necessary supply for combustion of gas in burner 10. This stream of air envelops the jets of oil issuing from the nozzles 4 and sweeps the surface of the pool of oil which forms and spreads in the burner pan 1-. From the flame of the gas burner the oil takes fire and the now established flame of burning oil springs from the surfaces of contact indicated, between the entering bodies of oil and of air.

The flame springing from the burnerpan and from the space immediately above, radiates from the burner pan, and as it radiates, rises. The annulus 8 and, cooperating with it, annulus 9 by their presence tend to limit the spread of the flame. It will be understood that this burner is situated within and at the floor of a large chamber, the fire box of a furnace. To this chamber there is an air intake, through the burner itself, and an exit for the products of combustion through a chimney opening. This chimney meaeeo opening is remote from the burner, and ordlnarily opens from the end wall of the fire box and at or near its highest point. Between burner and chimney opening is ordinarily formed a bridge Wall. The .arrangement here described is diagrammatically shown in 'Fig. V of the drawings. Here the space within the furnace walls is b the horizontal partition 12 divided into as pit below and fire box above. The burner is situated in the partition 12, in the manner already described. The fire boxopens to the chimney at 13, remote/from burner 7. The bridge wall'l extends within thev fire box, and fills all the space, exce t for a narrow interval (in this instance a out two inches in width) at which it stands awayfrom the side walls and roof wall of the fire box. And, as the drawing indicates, this bridge wall stands near that end wall of the fire box, through which the chimney opening 13 is formed. The fire box chamber to the eft, as seen in Fig. V is'the chamber where the circulating medium is heated which conveys heat to the house. This medium may be water, steam, air. It is not necessary here to pursue explanation further.

We return to the bafie rings 8 and 9 and to a description of their function. As we have said, they limit the lateral spread of the flame, and they form an eddyin the circulation of heated gases within and through the fire box. This eddy swirls about the burner pan 1, and so much of the flame as is so diverted imparts heat particularly to the burner an 1. When after starting combustion of t e oil is well established, the gas supply to burner 10 may be cut off, and thereafter the oil burner is self sufiicient,

and requires no extraneous heating for its burner pan.

The annuli 8 and 9 have this further effect. Not only do they confine the heat, to maintain the burner pan at proper temperature; they serve further, by confining the heat, to intensify and localize combustion,

to make combustion complete, and render the flame smokeless.

The flame of the burner rising in the fire box serves like the flame of any other fire to heat the medium by which the house is warmed.

By the particular arrangement we have described we achieve substantially complete combustion of fuel, "with substantially complete release of available heat units at the point where they may to the fullest extent be utilized, and a substantially smokeless flame. The great problem in the burning of oil in furnaces is to get complete combustion, as nearly as may be, and at the point where the heat units released may be turned to use to the fullest possible extent. To this problem we present a solution of largest efiicacy.

It remains to explain our preferred arrangement of parts, adopted to achieve economies of manufacture and assembly. The whole burner is, as we have said, carried on plate 5. The burner plate 5 through the interposition of annulus 6, as already explained. Drip pan 11 is swung from plate 5 beneath by means of hangers'15, and as the drawings indicate the drip pan 11 may becast in one piece with the hangers 15 and then bolted to plate 5 beneath. v I

The stand pipe through which the oil flows to the burner is, as we have indicated, preferably made in two separable sections. A lower section 16 may be screw-threaded or otherwise integrated with a tube section let into or secured in a central opening in drip pan 11, and the upper section 2 with -'ts rose-head 3 may be screw-threaded or otherwise separably united with the lower section 16. To the central passageway through drip pan 11 thereis communication from a source of liquid fuel supply through the connection 17.

The vaulted baflle plate 7 is centrally recessed, and rests by gravity upon the u standing end of pipe 2. The plate 7 may be provided with a central extensible screwthreaded stud 18, and by adjustment of this stud the position of bafile plate 7 above the burner pan may be minutely varied.

The annuli 8 and 9 may rest b gravity upon blogks 19 which rise from p ate 5.

From the drip pan a connection 20 may convey the accumulated oil away. This connection is guarded from "clogging by a strainer 21.

The operation of assembly willbe easily understood. The dri pan 11 is bolted to plate 5, and plate 5 t en is set in the horizontal partition within the furnace. Connection with the oil suppl may then be made, and connection also or the oil overflow to auxiliary automatically functioning cut-off mechanism or other place of collec-' tion or dis osal.

- The gas, urner is then put in place and connections made for it. The annulus 6 is next applied, and the burner pan placed upon it. The upper sectionof the stand pipe 2 with its rose-head is then screwed to place upon the lower section. The annuli 8 and 9 are set in place, and last of all the vaulted baflie plate 7 is placed upon the upstanding end of pipe 2.

It will be understood that by familiar dampers in the air passageway leading to the ash pit, and in the chimney passag way, the flow of air through the burner may be regulated, and that by cock or valve in the liquid fuel supply pipe, the flow of fuel may be regulated.

We claim as our invention:

1. ,In a burner structure a horizontally disposed annular burner pan, means for an rests upon a familiar stop causing a stream of air to sweep the burner pan radially from the central opening of the pan outward, an annulus of pipe arranged concentrically above said burner pan, means for supplying liquid fuel to said annulus, said annulus being provided with nozzles adapted to deliver the fuel in jets within the body of the stream of air and above the burner pan.

2. In a burner structure a horizontally disposed annular burner pan, a ring-shaped bafie plate arranged concentrically-of said burner pan and at an interval beyond its outer periphery, means for causing a stream of air rising centrally through said burner pan to sweep the pan radially from the center outward, an annular container for liquid fuel arranged concentrically above said burner pan and within the stream of air setup by the means specified and provided with nozzles adapted to deliver jets of liquid fuel above said burner pan, and means for supplying liquid fuel to said container.

3. In a burner structure a horizontally extending bed plate, a vertically extending air tube rising from and surrounding a circular opening in said bed plate, an annular burner pan extending horizontally fromthe upper rim of said air tube and at an interval above said bed plate, a vertically extending bafl'le ring arranged opposite and at an interval beyond the outer margin of said burner pan and at an interval above said bed plate, means for causing a stream of air rising through the annulus first named to spread laterally and sweep across the said raeaeeo burner pan and means for projecting into the flowing stream at a point above said burner pan a jet of fluid fuel.

4. In a burner structure a horizontally extending bed plate, a vertically extending air tube rising from and surrounding a circular opening in said bed plate, an annular burner pan extending horizontally fromthe upper rim of said air tube and at an interval above said bed plate, a plurality of vertically extending'baifie rings arranged concentrically at intervals beyond the outer margin of said burner pan and at'intervals from said bed plate and from one another, the outer succeeding the inner in a rising stepped succession.

5. In a burner structure the combination of a vertically standing air tube, an annular burner pan extending outwardly from the upper rim of said annulus, the outer niargin of said pan rising higher than the rim of the air tube, a drip pan arranged below and extending laterally beyond the lower riin of the annulus, means for feeding liquid fuel to said burner pan, and means for causing a stream of air rising through said annulus to sweep over said burner pan from inner to outer margin. 1

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

JAMES B. ANDERSON. JAMES B. GARNER. Witnesses:

' G. A. KINLEY,

ELIZABETH P. MACKEY. 

